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Cover Crops Field Day at Southeastern Community College Oct. 23

AMES, Iowa — Iowa Learning Farms and Practical Farmers of Iowa will host a field day on Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Southeastern Community College, West Burlington. The field day will focus on use of cover crops for erosion control and soil health.

Cover crops are becoming more common on Iowa fields. They protect soil from wind and water erosion as well as capturing nitrogen that could otherwise leach from the soil and enter waterways. The field day includes presentations by Natural Resources Conservation Service soil scientist Jason Steele and area farmers Tim Knutson and Jim Pilling, who will share experiences in growing cover crops. District conservationist Drew DeLang will provide an update on the Lake Geode Watershed project. Field day attendees will visit the SCC cover crop plots that are using seed donated by Green Valley Seeds.

The event is free and includes a complimentary evening meal prepared by the Des Moines County Cattlemen. The field day will be at the Agri-Stock Arena at Southeastern Community College, 1500 West Agency Road, West Burlington.